31. ‘Fit for 55 Package’ is associated with which association?
[A] EU
[B] ASEAN
[C] G-20
[D] G-7
Answer: A [EU]
Notes:
European Union’s ‘Fit for 55 Package’ is a set of proposals to revise and update the European Union Legislation and launch new initiatives to achieve the reduction of carbon emissions by 55 percent by 2030 compared to a 1990 benchmark.
As part of this package, changes were made to the EU’s Emissions Trading System to bring down emissions in the industrial sector.
32. Liberica excelsa, which was seen in the news, belongs to which species?
[A] Tea
[B] Coffee
[C] Rice
[D] Wheat
Answer: B [Coffee]
Notes:
Liberica excelsa is a species of coffee that is found to be capable of withstanding heat, drought and disease exacerbated by global warming.
It is being promoted by large coffee exporting countries in Africa as an alternative to Arabica and robusta, which are at risk to climate change.
33. What is a ‘Comb Jelly’, which was seen in the news recently?
[A] Semi conductor Chip
[B] Malware
[C] Marine Organism
[D] Cryptocurrency
Answer: C [Marine Organism]
Notes:
Comb jellies, also known as ctenophores, are marine organisms known for the groups of cilia they use for swimming.
A new study revealed that the nerve-net neurons of the comb jellies are not connected by synapses but by a single plasma membrane.
34. Burachapori wildlife sanctuary is situated in which state/UT?
[A] Assam
[B] West Bengal
[C] Odisha
[D] Arunachal Pradesh
Answer: A [Assam]
Notes:
Burachapori wildlife sanctuary is a protected area situated in Assam, on the south bank of the Brahmaputra River.
The state government recently announced the plan to open the traditional path of wild animals from the Kaziranga National Park to Orang National Park through this wildlife sanctuary.
35. ‘Archopterus anjiensis’, the oldest sea scorpion, has been found in which country?
[A] India
[B] China
[C] Argentina
[D] South Africa
Answer: B [China]
Notes:
Archopterus anjiensis is the oldest fossil sea scorpion in China. Its 445-million-year-old fossil was found in the Chinese Zhejiang Province.
The 445-million-year-old fossil sea scorpion lived during the uppermost Ordovician period, around 445 million years ago.
36. Gekko mizoramensis was discovered recently in which state/UT?
[A] Assam
[B] Mizoram
[C] West Bengal
[D] Kerala
Answer: B [Mizoram]
Notes:
Gekko mizoramensis was discovered in Mizoram by researchers of Mizoram University and Germany-based Max Planck Institute for Biology.
It is a gliding gecko, a subgenus found in Southeast Asia. The lizard is named as Parachute Gecko because of skin flaps along the body and tail that enable it to glide.
37. Kishtwar High Altitude National Park is situated in which state/UT?
[A] Jammu and Kashmir
[B] Arunachal Pradesh
[C] Sikkim
[D] Uttarakhand
Answer: A [Jammu and Kashmir]
Notes:
Kishtwar High Altitude National Park is situated in Jammu and Kashmir. A camera trap recently recorded the presence of snow leopard in this national park.
This sanctuary has an altitude range of 1700 to 4800 Metres, providing a natural habitat to various species of mammals and of birds.
38. ‘Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary’ is located in which state/UT?
[A] West Bengal
[B] Assam
[C] Uttarakhand
[D] Bihar
Answer: B [Assam]
Notes:
Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River in Morigaon district in Assam.
The Supreme Court has recently asked the Central Government and the Assam government to respond to a plea seeking directions to declare the area around the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary an eco-sensitive zone.
39. What is ‘Gomphonema rajaguruii’, which was discovered recently?
[A] Algae
[B] Bacteria
[C] Fungi
[D] Virus
Answer: A [Algae]
Notes:
Gomphonema rajaguruii is a newly discovered species of oxygen-supplying algae. It is named after a veteran geo-archaeologist, the late Professor S N Rajaguru.
Gomphonema rajaguruii is a freshwater diatom species. The finding is unique because it shows the characteristics of two genus — Gomphonema and Gomphoneis.
40. Utah Mountains, which were seen in the news for Watermelon Snow, is situated in which country?
[A] Russia
[B] Ukraine
[C] USA
[D] Indonesia
Answer: C [USA]
Notes:
Watermelon snow is a natural occurrence found in mountainous regions worldwide, where the vibrant color of the snow is caused by a green algae bloom that thrives in cold, snowy conditions.
This phenomenon can give the appearance of the snow changing color, but it is actually due to the presence of the algae. This was recently reported in the Utah Mountains, USA.